These four poems
were inspired by the haiku of Kobayashi Issa, 1762 - 1826
1
beneath my window
peals of children's laughter
or was it a dream?
2
a chnace meeting
among the cherry blossoms
my heart aflutter
3
the lovelorn cat
prowls the nighttime village
will he find her?
4
into my teacup
a single tear
the poet Issa
Kobayashi Issa: His
pseudonym (Issa) means 'one cup of tea'. Born on a farm, he was
raised by a harsh stepmother and dogged by misfortune and
poverty, yet found comfort in the companionship of the smallest
living creatures with whom he empathized.
These haiku by Issa
were the inspiration for my haiku.
1
snow melts
and the village floods
with children
yuki tokete mura ippai mo kodomo kana
2
in the shadow of the
cherry blossom
complete strangers
there are none ...
hana no kage aka no tanin wa nakari keri
3
in from the dark
and out into the dark—
that's a cat in love!
